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Effects of an entertaining, culturally targeted narrative and an appealing expert interview on the colorectal screening intentions of African American women
Author(s) -
Kennedy May G.,
McClish Donna,
Jones Resa M.,
Jin Yan,
Wilson Diane B.,
Bishop Diane L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.21983
Subject(s) - narrative , african american , active listening , medicine , psychology , gerontology , psychotherapist , sociology , anthropology , philosophy , linguistics
Universal screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is recommended for individuals 50–75 years of age, but screening uptake is suboptimal and African Americans have suffered persistent racial disparities in CRC incidence and deaths. We compared a culturally tailored fictional narrative and an engaging expert interview on the ability to increase intentions to be screened for CRC among African American women. In a post‐only experiment, women (N = 442) in face‐to‐face listening groups in African American churches heard audio recordings of either a narrative or an expert interview. Questionnaires were completed immediately afterward and 30 days later. Women who heard narratives reported stronger intentions to be screened with a home stool blood test than women who heard the interview; the effect lasted at least 30 days. Culturally tailored, fictional narratives appear to be an effective persuasive strategy for reducing racial disparities in CRC outcomes.